Pomperaug running game too much for Newtown

SOUTHBURY -- It was the best test of the season for the Pomperaug High football team -- and the Panthers aced it.

In a battle of unbeaten teams in the South-West Conference, Pomperaug churned out over 300 yards on the ground and overcame a few missteps to seal a 33-9 victory over Newtown to remain undefeated.

"We knew it was a big game," said senior captain Ben Crick, who finished with 220 yards on 25 carries. "We knew we had to get the job done. This team is hungry and we didn't want to let anyone take a win away from us."

After holding Newtown on its first possession Crick and the Panthers offense went right to work to set the tone. The Panthers' attack featured eight consecutive running plays on a 56-yard drive that lasted nearly five minutes. In the end, it was quarterback Andrew Clements who scored on a 12-yard run up the middle to give the home team a 6-0 lead.

An end zone interception interrupted the Panthers' second drive but a Newtown turnover led to the Panthers' second touchdown. A fumble by Nick Tarantino gave the Panthers the ball on the Nighthawks' 29-yard line, and two plays later, Crick broke loose for a 23-yard touchdown run. Another failed two-point conversion attempt left the score at 12-0 in favor of Pomperaug.

"Two undefeated teams with two strong defenses," said Pomperaug head coach Chuck Drury. "We were fortunate early. We go up 12-0 and that gave us the momentum."

Even when Newtown was able to get the offense going, mistakes proved costly. Early in the second quarter, John Fracker threw a wide receiver screen to Kyle O'Connor that appeared to be destined for a 72-yard touchdown connection.

As O'Connor crossed the goal line -- and one official signaled touchdown -- lineman Connor McNamara made a costly block in the back. The penalty moved the ball back to the Panther 16-yard line and the Nighthawks, after three incomplete passes, settled for a 33-yard field goal from Rory Noonan to make the score 12-3.

A second touchdown from Crick pushed the lead to 19-3 and with the ball the Panthers looked destined for another first-half rout. Clements set up a screen pass but Newtown linebacker Jamie Bowers stepped in front of the pass and returned the interception 38 yards for the touchdown that cut the score to 19-9 and kept the Nighthawks still in the game at the half.

"We were in this game right up until the third quarter," said Newtown head coach Steve George. "A couple of things didn't go our way. We had our own opportunities and didn't capitalize."

Pomperaug started the second half the same as the first and dampened any thoughts of a comeback. With an unbalanced formation, the Panthers aggressively ran the ball down the field. A 33-yard burst by sophomore Matt Paola moved the chains and a 23-yard run off-tackle by Crick set the ball on the Nighthawks 2-yard line. Two plays later, Clements punched the ball over for the touchdown that increased the lead to 26-9.

Later in the third, the Panthers' offense put the game away for good. With sophomore quarterback Kellen Croce in the game, Pomperaug went on a five-play 70-yard drive. A 30-yard run by Crick moved the ball into Nighthawk territory and a 15-yard completion to Matt Meyer extended the drive. Following a lengthy penalty, Croce settled back in the pocket and connected with Paola for a 39-yard touchdown catch and run.

"We came out in the second half and played solid football," concluded Drury.